As part of the team assembled to conduct an analysis
of the Columbia Park Remains, my task involved the analysis and description
of the lithic artifact embedded in the human ilium. Apart from describing
and documenting the artifact, my goal was to conduct a non-destructive
technological analysis of the stone tool and estimate the chronological
period of its use based on typological information and comparative data
from archaeological sites in the Pacific Northwest. Related goals of
the study that required a team effort involved interpreting the way
in which the artifact became embedded in the pelvic bone, and assessing
the impact that it had on the health of the individual. Overall, the
assessment of the lithic artifact in the ilium was conducted to assist
the National Park Service in determining whether the human remains are
Native American.

Visual
Inspection

Between February 25 and March 1, 1999, I conducted research
at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington, during which time
I examined the Columbia Park Remains and made observations and notes
about the stone artifact embedded in the fragment of the right ilium.
The broken portion of the ilium that contained the stone artifact (specimen
97.R.17) was approximately seven centimeters long by six centimeters
wide. The interior surface of the bone had an oval opening approximately
3.5 cm. long by 1.5 cm. wide through which was visible one face of a
bifacially worked basalt or andesite artifact. The opposite side of
the bone had a smaller rectangular opening on the exterior surface that
measured approximately 1.8 cm. long by 1.6 cm. wide, through which the
opposite face of the artifact was visible. The interior surface of the
bone surrounding the artifact was thickened and curved from regrowth
of the bone around the stone artifact. On the exterior surface of the
ilium, a thin layer of bone partially covered the stone artifact. However,
a portion of the serrated edge of the stone tool was visible along the
edge closest to the iliac crest, and there was a gap between the bone
and the stone in this area. The iliac crest above the oval opening in
the ilium was approximately 1.2 cm. thick. The artifact was sandwiched
between the interior and exterior surfaces of the ilium with the long
axis of the artifact parallel to the iliac crest and with one visible
serrated edge oriented upward. From edge to edge, the artifact was situated
within and was parallel to the ascending portion of the ilium.

The surfaces of the bone and the stone artifact contained
a discontinuous, light colored gray-brown mineral encrustation. Similar
mineral deposits were noted on most of the other human bones and on
some of the artifacts that had been recovered from the beach during
previous field investigations at Columbia Park.

Description
of the Lithic Artifact

The lithic artifact embedded in the ilium was visible
through two openings, one on the interior and one on the exterior surface
of the pelvic bone. Based on a visual examination and with the aid of
a hand lens, the raw material used in the manufacture of the artifact
is a dark gray, medium-grained volcanic stone commonly referred to as
basalt. Rocks commonly referred to as basalt are often confused with
dacite and andesite, forms that are not easily differentiated by visual
inspection alone (Bakewell 1993:23; Bakewell and Irving 1994:29). Notwithstanding,
the stone artifact is glassy and exhibits good-quality flaking characteristics.

The artifact is bifacial in form and has been shaped
by percussion flaking. Broad flat flake scars suggest that percussion
blows were used to detach flakes and thin the specimen bifacially from
the edges. Step terminations parallel to the long axis of the artifact
suggest that the type of stone used is platy, and tends to fracture
relatively easily along the plates, allowing for large flat flakes to
be removed. However, with this type of stone, it is much more difficult
to remove flakes from directions perpendicular to these planes, and
such attempts often result in step terminations. Percussion flake scars
exhibiting step terminations are evident on both faces of the artifact.
The artifact has a biconvex cross section, is relatively thin, and has
been pressure flaked along the one edge that is visible. Pressure flaking
techniques were used to form the serrations, and like the percussion
flake scars, the pressure flake scars also exhibit step terminations
where the flakes broke off, leaving a square edge on the surface of
the artifact. Overall, the artifact is relatively thin and well made.

Since the artifact is surrounded by bone, it is not
possible, from a visual inspection alone, to differentiate the tip from
the base, or to determine if the object has been notched to facilitate
hafting. The biconvex cross section and the serrated edge suggest that
the object is a projectile point, but the orientation of the point is
not readily apparent except for the fact that the long axis of the biface
is parallel to the iliac crest. Given the limitations of a visual inspection,
x-rays and CT scans were conducted to obtain a better view of the portion
of the artifact that was covered by bone.

Results
of the X-rays and CT Scans

X-rays and CT scans were performed at the University
of Washington Hospital. The x-rays provided a generalized shape of the
artifact. However, due to the partial mineralization of the bone and
the mineral deposits on the surface of the bone, as well as sediments
in between the artifact and the bone, it was still not possible to determine
which end was the tip and which was the base. The x-ray image was just
not clear enough to determine if the artifact was of a lanceolate shape,
or was a stemmed point with a distinctive hafting element. A better
image was needed to determine the outline shape and cross section of
the artifact so that the artifact type could be determined. If an image
suitable to determine the style and shape of the artifact could be obtained,
it would be possible to estimate the age of the artifact by comparing
the object with similar artifacts from sites or deposits for which the
period of deposition had been established. Likewise, a clearer picture
of the artifact was needed to provide an interpretation of how it had
become lodged in the pelvis.

The CT scans provided much more detailed information
about the size, shape, and cross section of the artifact. Images representing
cross sections of the ilium and the artifact were produced at 2 mm.
intervals from the anterior to the posterior surface of the ilium. The
resulting image, although not clear enough to distinguish flake scars
or details regarding treatment of the edges of the artifact, did reveal
its shape and form. Some distortion evident in the cross section images
may be due to the presence of minerals in the bone and sediments between
the bone and the artifact. These distortions make it difficult to obtain
precise measurements of the artifact, however, the overall shape can
be determined.

Based on the CT scans, the artifact is lanceolate in
outline form with a biconvex cross section. The twenty-eight cross sections
spaced at 2 mm. intervals indicate that the artifact is minimally 5.6
cm. long. The artifact is approximately 2 cm. wide at the widest end,
and tapers to 3 mm. wide at the narrowest end. The shape and cross sections
indicate that the object is a biface that has a wide, rounded base and
a narrow, tapering tip. There is no evidence of notches or a stem, and
the exposed portion of the artifact is approximately 6 mm. thick near
the widest end and 5.5 mm. thick near the midsection.

Typological
Assessment of the Artifact

The artifact resembles a Cascade point in shape and
cross section (Butler 1961:28-29). The type of raw material used in
the manufacture of the tool is commonly used for the production of similar
bifacial tools identified as projectile points and knives in Cascade
phase assemblages. Serrated edges are a common trait of Cascade points,
but serrated edges are not limited to these types of projectile points.
Technological details that would be useful in determining manufacturing
techniques, methods of sharpening, and evidence of resharpening that
are characteristic of Cascade phase lithic artifacts are not evident
on the portion of the artifact that is visible with the naked eye. The
images obtained by the x-rays and CT scans do not provide the details
to determine if a remnant striking platform is present or absent. Remnant
platforms are commonly present at the base of Cascade points, but the
available images are not clear enough to determine if such a platform
remnant is present. Likewise, it is not possible to determine if serrations
are present on the edge of the specimen that is covered with bone, or
even to what extent the serrations continue on the portion of the edge
where they can be seen through a gap between the bone and the artifact.
The location and orientation of serrations, can be used to differentiate
the tip from the base of a Cascade point, but adequate views and images
are not available at present.

The size, shape, raw material, and presence of serrations
are attributes common to, but not exclusive to, Cascade projectile points.
The combination of these attributes, even with the limited ability to
see other more definitive characteristics of flake scar patterns, however,
supports the identification of the artifact as a possible or probable
Cascade projectile point.

Cascade phase assemblages are common throughout the
Pacific Northwest (Butler 1961, Newman 1966, Nelson 1969, Rice 1972).
These assemblages are often associated with deposits of volcanic ash
that originated during the eruption of Mt. Mazama approximately 7,600
years ago, and thus, their age can be relatively accurately assessed.
Early Cascade phase assemblages, usually considered to be older than
the Mt. Mazama eruption, are characterized by unstemmed lanceolate points
referred to in the regional literature as laurel-leaf shaped Cascade
points. Late Cascade phase assemblages, usually considered to post-date
the Mt. Mazama eruption, are characterized by large side-notched projectile
points (Ames et al. 1998). The lithic artifact embedded in the pelvic
bone of the Columbia Park Remains resembles a Cascade type of projectile
point, a form that was in common use prior to 7,000 years ago.

Comparisons
with Museum Collections

In order to make an assessment of possible age of manufacture
and period of use of the artifact associated with the Columbia Park
Remains, I examined several archaeological collections at the Burke
Museum at the University of Washington and at the Museum of Natural
History at the University of Oregon. I was particularly interested in
assemblages containing lanceolate projectile points of basalt of the
general shape and size of the specimen from Columbia Park. I examined
Olcott assemblages from western Washington, and Cascade and Windust
phase assemblages from the Columbia Plateau. I also examined collections
from sites with pre-Mazama assemblages, and noted similarities and differences
between projectile points from these sites and the Columbia Park specimen.

Lanceolate points with serrated edges were common in
the pre-Mazama assemblages from the Columbia Plateau. The use of basalt
was particularly common for the manufacture of unstemmed lanceolate
points with serrated edges in the Olcott assemblages, but similar points
were also manufactured from a wide variety of cryptocrystalline silicate
stones in the Columbia Plateau, and obsidian in the southern portion
of the Columbia Plateau.

Early Archaic, Windust phase (Rice 1972), assemblages
are characterized by stemmed and shouldered projectile points. Although
lanceolate points without stems are also present in these early assemblages,
they often have indented bases, and serrated edges are not common. These
Early Archaic projectile points do not resemble the Columbia Park specimen.

Late Archaic assemblages characterized by notched and
barbed projectile points include occasional specimens with serrated
edges. The blades of these Late Archaic notched points, however, tend
to be either narrower and longer, or shorter and broader than Cascade
points.

The Columbia Park specimen more closely resembles the
Cascade projectile point type, than either the earlier or later period
projectile point types commonly found in the Pacific Northwest. By comparison,
the Columbia Park specimen is considered to be a Cascade point or a
variant of a Cascade point and is thought to represent a tool made and
used during Early Archaic times between 7,000 and 5,000 years ago.

Interpretation
of How the Stone Artifact Became Lodged in the Pelvic Bone

The lanceolate-shaped projectile point is interpreted
as the tip or armament of a spear or dart. A spear could be hand held
and used for thrusting, or propelled by throwing, while a dart would
have been propelled by an atlatal. Based on the orientation of the point
in the ilium, with the tip toward the anterior surface and the base
toward the posterior surface, the point entered the body from the right
side of the back, and with enough force to embed the entire tip deeply
in the right ilium. The extensive amount of bone that has grown around
the stone point suggests that the point was in place for a considerable
amount of time and was not the cause of death.

The point may have detached from the shaft on impact,
or the force of the impact may have broken a small portion of the base
on impact. A closer examination of the base would be needed to determine
how the point became separated from the haft. Likewise, the distal end
of the tip of the point may have been damaged on impact. Again, a close
examination of the artifact would be needed to determine if the tip
had been damaged. Nevertheless, the stone point became enclosed by bone
and connective tissue through the process of healing, and remained in
place throughout the life of the individual.